Do you get off topic?

[Cato the Younger]

So, how often do you get off topic in a conversation. I personally do it all the time. My brain is shooting off in too many directions. I link thoughts to other thoughts to other thoughts. My conversations with people can start off on something like the political scene of the US currently and end on the military tactics of the Early Roman Empire and how they were able to crush phalanxes.

[Firelie]

Uh huh. Too many things going on in there and too many observations being made while conversing.

[wolf]

Often.

I love intuitive leaps and association-based thread derailments.

[qwerty]

Generally no. If I leave a topic there is a point and then I return to where I began.

[Tarrick]

There's a phrase for it: "Take it to Tangency!"

My friends and I will be talking about the most random thing when I ask "How did we get here?"

[Rei]

Yeah...
Depending on who I'm conversing with, I either suddenly break out with a random statement...

Or I tune out for a couple of seconds so I don't lose my thought... and I come back to the conversation and then I go... I forgot what I was thinking...

It sucks :thumbsdown:

[Guido]

I tend to go off topic alot, but I am generally pretty good at remembering what I was talking about before hand. I used to lose my train of thought alot, but it was one of those things that bugged me so I 'fixed' it and I no longer do it. Well... as much :X

[Firelie]

I'm surprised this thread isn't off-topic yet.

[Tarrick]

I like soup on a cold day.

[Rei]

because there hasn't been enough posts...

but anyway...
like hot chocolate on a cold day... how typical of me... oatmeal works too =]

[Cato the Younger]

Hot chocolate is pure awesomeness.

[Rei]

Hot chocolate is pure awesomeness.
I don't know if you realize how hilarious this sounds coming from a guy...

[Firelie]

Hot chocolate is pure awesomeness.
I don't know if you realize how hilarious this sounds coming from a guy...

I had this mental picture of some dude going "Ahhhh" in pure bliss while relaxing in a tub of hot chocolate. I just thought I'd share that with y'all.

[Tarrick]

I had this mental picture of some dude going "Ahhhh" in pure bliss while relaxing in a tub of hot chocolate. I just thought I'd share that with y'all.


:o

Okay.

Were there marshmallows floating in the tub?

[Firelie]

Yes. The big kind, though, not the little ones.

[Tarrick]

But of course.

[Rei]

I had this mental picture of some dude going "Ahhhh" in pure bliss while relaxing in a tub of hot chocolate. *I just thought I'd share that with y'all.


I want to try one of those...
Though I must say... what a waste of hot chocolate...

[Cato the Younger]

Hot chocolate is pure awesomeness.
I don't know if you realize how hilarious this sounds coming from a guy...

I had this mental picture of some dude going "Ahhhh" in pure bliss while relaxing in a tub of hot chocolate. I just thought I'd share that with y'all.


You from the South?

What? I like hot chocolate and I think it tastes good. You people are weird.

[Firelie]

No South. WEST COAST FOREVER! WOO!!

[Cato the Younger]

You are hereby banned from using "Y'all." Only Southerners may use that word. Wannabes... :thumbsdown:

[Tarrick]

No South. WEST COAST FOREVER! WOO!!

Right! :thumbsup:

[Evalis]

And in big she means pillow-sized, smothering the guy in his chocolatey ecstasy!

And yes... getting off topic occurs often.. though this is largely because my friends and I see the 'link' between the two scenarios, and it's incredibly fun to try to figure out later what steps where taken to reach the current topic based on the seemingly unrelated original.

[Rei]

I didn't know y'all was a southerner thing =/

[Cato the Younger]

Yeah. It originated in the south. Just how we call everything "coke" and "fixing to" means "about to." In Louisiana, specifically, we measure distance in hours.

[rwyatt365]

Yeah. *It originated in the south. *Just how we call everything "coke" and "fixing to" means "about to." *In Louisiana, specifically, we measure distance in hours.

Is that usage permissable for 3rd-gen southern transplants soon to be freezing our butts off "up north" but longing to return to Dixie?

[Cato the Younger]

As long as you lived in the South most of the time you were growing up or 15+ years you can.

[Firelie]

I was born in Virginia. I think that's south enough for me to have the right to use "yall" when I please. :D

[Tarrick]

Okay Firelie, point to you.

But! How do you say....I-5? Do you say, "I 5", or "The I 5"? Hmmmmmmmmm?

[Firelie]

Uhh...I say I5... :-? Actually, I don't know. Public transit is fantastic here, so I haven't driven for years.

[Jezebel]

Okay Firelie, point to you.

But! How do you say....I-5? Do you say, "I 5", or "The I 5"? Hmmmmmmmmm?
People say those? I only know "The 5". No I.

[Tarrick]

Okay Firelie, point to you.

But! How do you say....I-5? Do you say, "I 5", or "The I 5"? Hmmmmmmmmm?
People say those? I only know "The 5". No I.


Heathens! I-5 is a proper name! So you say it "I 5"!

[Jon]

Maybe it's a regional thing? I only hear "I-5" in commercials and on radio traffic reports. Everyone around here just says "the 5". I assume it's this way because it makes it that much easier to say take the 5 to the 73 to the 405 to the 110, or heck why not just take the 5 to the 101? Adding in all of the superfluous information would make the already cumbersome directions to Los Angeles even worse. Maybe people slow down and use the whole thing when they only have to talk about one freeway to get somewhere.

To OP: No, never! Staying on topic is the most important whatever for I don't remember the topic anymore.

[Jezebel]

Adding in all of the superfluous information would make the already cumbersome directions to Los Angeles even worse.
Exactly. It's a matter of efficient speaking.

[Max T]

(non- US member steps in)- you've lost me re. I-5.

Getting back onto the topic of going off topic...
I used to occasionally confuse people by just going straight into the tangental connection, but now have learnt to say "that reminds me" or "changing subject" to warn them.

Don't you love to find the interconnections between say two or three subjects in a conversation, to start a new line of thought?
Or change the conversation into discussing the underlying theme/ bigger picture to the (now) previous conversation?
If the subsequent conversation rapidly dries up, perhaps it indicates that the others aren't 'NT's.

[rwyatt365]

As long as you lived in the South most of the time you were growing up or 15+ years you can.

Arrgh! doomed to "you all" for eternity!

BTW what were we talking about?

[Tarrick]

It may be a regional thing, but saying "the" indicates a "common" noun, rather then a "Proper" noun. And I-5 is a name, so it would be referred to as a proper noun.
Take that!

[Rei]

Don't you love to find the interconnections between say two or three subjects in a conversation, to start a new line of thought?
Or change the conversation into discussing the underlying theme/ bigger picture to the (now) previous conversation?
If the subsequent conversation rapidly dries up, perhaps it indicates that the others aren't 'NT's.

Happens to me all the time.
It's even scarier when I wasn't really talking/a part of the conversation. And then I suddenly interrupt with something that's off topic. ;D
I've gotten even worse at keping my mouth shut about these things lately... maybe it's just because despite how much it :suspicious:'s people, my friend's find it infinately funny.

[Jezebel]

It may be a regional thing, but saying "the" indicates a "common" noun, rather then a "Proper" noun. And I-5 is a name, so it would be referred to as a proper noun.
Take that!
Meh, who cares if it's the proper way if it's inefficient? Conformist!

[Tarrick]

Meh, who cares if it's the proper way if it's inefficient? Conformist!

Saying I-5 Is easier. It's has two similarly pitched syllables as opposed to "The 5" which as two dissimilarly sounding syllables.

[Jezebel]

Saying I-5 Is easier. It's has two similarly pitched syllables as opposed to "The 5" which as two dissimilarly sounding syllables.
Two similarly pitched syllables are actually harder to say clearly because the sounds slur together more. If i have to slow down or repeat myself, it isn't easier. :P

Actually though, it's most efficient to use whatever the regional dialect is. If I said "I 5", I would either end up explaining what I was talking about or listen to people constantly point out that I was saying it differently. But if I ever move to Washington, I'll consider switching, ok?

[Tarrick]

Saying I-5 Is easier. It's has two similarly pitched syllables as opposed to "The 5" which as two dissimilarly sounding syllables.
Two similarly pitched syllables are actually harder to say clearly because the sounds slur together more. If i have to slow down or repeat myself, it isn't easier. :P

Actually though, it's most efficient to use whatever the regional dialect is. If I said "I 5", I would either end up explaining what I was talking about or listen to people constantly point out that I was saying it differently. But if I ever move to Washington, I'll consider switching, ok?

Okay. Yeah our accent up here is essentially no accent, so slurring isn't a problem. I just like poking people about it. ;D

[Jon]

Wait, you say "take I-5"? The aforementioned commercials always say "Fladeboe Honda, right off the I-5 at Avery" and the like. Without the definite article, it's just way too personal. If it were shortened to "I. 5" I'd be okay, but the hyphen just makes it a mess.

[Tarrick]

The hyphen is just correct spelling. And street names are names just like any other, "Take 167 to 405 West and then hop on I-5 South." Is exactly how we talk up here.

[Jon]

The hyphen is just correct spelling. And street names are names just like any other, "Take 167 to 405 West and then hop on I-5 South." Is exactly how we talk up here.

But you don't call it the I-405?

ed: "I-405" no the.

[Tarrick]

Three syllables is generally what we hold it to. Saying I-405 is a bit of a mouthful.

[Rei]

Is the reason why this topic was not split because it's the "off topic" discussion?

And if that's not the reason, this is actually pretty cool.
You can have an "off topic" topic, and have it go on forever about things that only slightly relate to the topic before...

Yay for rambling.

[Guido]

I noticed this too and silently appreciated the irony :D

You've just ruined that irony :angry:

[Rei]

I noticed this too and silently appreciated the irony :D

You've just ruined that irony :angry:

Sorry :(

It's still funny... :-/

[Tarrick]

I noticed this too and silently appreciated the irony :D

You've just ruined that irony :angry:

Sorry :(

It's still funny... :-/

It's not funny! It's serious business! It's a scientific study of irony!

[Firelie]

Listerine has mystical healing properties.

[Tarrick]

Listerine has mystical healing properties.

I agree! I also propose that the secondary use of dental floss is for assassination.

[Firelie]

I agree! I also propose that the secondary use of dental floss is for assassination.

I killed a man just last week with some waxed mint floss.

[Tarrick]

Neat. I took out a door-to-door salesman with some cinnamon earlier today.

[Firelie]

Oooh, cinnamon! :loveeyes: I can never seem to find that flavor when I go looking for it. Must add a nice little burrrrn to the flesh...

[Tarrick]

I wouldn't know. And it's a bit late to ask him.

[Rei]

over use of listerine also increases risk of gum cancer...

hum, now i feel like baking...
i wonder how cinnamon would go with cheese cakes...

[Tarrick]

over use of listerine also increases risk of gum cancer...

hum, now i feel like baking...
i wonder how cinnamon would go with cheese cakes...

On or in? Or in the crust?

[Max T]

(Just to draw this off topicness to a whole new area...)

Firelie and Tarrick may struggle to obtain cinnamon, but back in Jesus' time it was so common that...

"He that is without cinnamon you, let him first cast a stone" ;D

[Tarrick]

If that's the case, then it should noted I have cinnamon. So

/Cast Stone

Let the stone casting begin!

[Max T]

(Sorry I 've just had endless loops of the stoning scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian playing in my mind...)

"Pebbles, get your pebbles here, got some lovely stoning pebbles...want to buy a bag of gravel anyone?"

It's beyond me how the average adult could project gravel at a sufficient velocity to do some worthwhile damage at a stoning.

But perhaps that's why we have moved from throwing rice at old fashioned weddings to now throwing confetti at the bride and groom: rice might hurt especially if it's catapulted (picture loved ones lined up outside the church with catapults and the groom nervously looking through the window- "it's too dangerous to go out there love, we'll have to wait for some rain to soften the rice"...). * :)

[rwyatt365]

(Sorry I 've just had endless loops of the stoning scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian playing in my mind...)

"Pebbles, get your pebbles here, got some lovely stoning pebbles...want to buy a bag of gravel anyone?"

It's beyond me how the average adult could project gravel at a sufficient velocity to do some worthwhile damage at a stoning.

But perhaps that's why we have moved from throwing rice at old fashioned weddings to now throwing confetti at the bride and groom: rice might hurt especially if it's catapulted (picture loved ones lined up outside the church with catapults and the groom nervously looking through the window- "it's too dangerous to go out there love, we'll have to wait for some rain to soften the rice"...). * :)

...as long as we're talking about Monty Python; for you cat-aficianados (sp?), does "Confuse-A-Cat" really work? I've always considered cats to be implacable.

But back to the original topic; sufficient quantities of cinnamon Listerine in conjunction with mint floss applied directly to silver fillings has been known to open gateways into fluidic space. That's the main reason why the supply of cinnamon Listerine is being kept so low.

[Tarrick]

Indeed? Maybe I can finally go home!

[Rei]

over use of listerine also increases risk of gum cancer...

hum, now i feel like baking...
i wonder how cinnamon would go with cheese cakes...

On or in? Or in the crust?

I don't know. I expect it'd be alright on and in the crust.
I wonder what it would be like if it was cinnamon-flavoured

[Cato the Younger]

It's beyond me how the average adult could project gravel at a sufficient velocity to do some worthwhile damage at a stoning.

But perhaps that's why we have moved from throwing rice at old fashioned weddings to now throwing confetti at the bride and groom: rice might hurt especially if it's catapulted (picture loved ones lined up outside the church with catapults and the groom nervously looking through the window- "it's too dangerous to go out there love, we'll have to wait for some rain to soften the rice"...). :)

Well, they didn't use gravel in stonings. They threw the victim in a pit and chunked large rocks at them. Made for great entertainment.

The reason they stopped throwing uncooked rice at the bride and groom is they discovered it caused the birds who would eat it later to explode. They would stuff themselves and then the rice would expand from the juices in their stomach and cause it to rupture. Not a pretty sight.

[aude]

But at last wouldnt those exploded birds be easier to cook since you dont have to worry about getting your clothes blooded. And easier to stuff :) .

[Cato the Younger]

But at last wouldnt those exploded birds be easier to cook since you dont have to worry about getting your clothes blooded. And easier to stuff :) .

:suspicious: :-?

[aude]

Talk about something that is totally random it doesnt fit eigh :)

I was just thinking about thanksgiving for some odd reason and it kinda morphed what i was saying

[Nomad]

Talk about something that is totally random it doesnt fit eigh :)

I was just thinking about thanksgiving for some odd reason and it kinda morphed what i was saying

That's certainly not an INTJ thing to do. Now, what were we talking about?

-Nomad

[Tarrick]

Penguins?

[Emma]

My friends and I will be talking about the most random thing when I ask "How did we get here?"

This happens to me on such a regular basis.

No wonder people tell me to shut up after that, or just change the topic :)